Usually, I only make one Caldecott prediction list. First I research what the pundits think will win. Then, I make a mad dash to read every picture book that keeps coming up on the lists. This strategy has worked pretty well as the last few years, I’ve been pretty successful in picking Caldecott winners: 2018…
Category: Best Books for Kids
Best picture books, chapter books, young adult books, graphic novels and non fiction for kids.
5 Earth Sciences STEM Picture Books
Please welcome my guest author today, Jody Jensen Shaffer, whose earth sciences book, A Chip Off The Old Block inspired this STEM book list. A Chip Off The Old Block by Jody Jensen Shaffer, illustrated by Daniel Miyares A pebble is on a quest to find out if he resembles any of his famous relatives. There’s Uncle Gibraltar,…
HOW TO CODE A SANDCASTLE book launch
Josh Funk has had a slew of book launches lately! I missed his Albie Newton at Blue Bunny Books so I was determined to make How To Code a Sandcastle since it was right in my town at Newtonville Books. His event was well attended and I saw Jacqueline Davies again this week (last week…
Sexual Misconduct in Children’s Book Publishing #MeToo
Update: I met with the Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America and they are cataloging the #MeToo movement as part of their archives collection. I alerted the manager of special projects for the #MeToo movement to include what is happening in children’s book publishing. So while the School Library Journal has chosen…
The Story Behind ALL ARE WELCOME
Please welcome my guest author today, illustrator Suzanne Kaufman, who talks about her inspiration for All Are Welcome in response to President Trump’s travel ban. She wanted to do something positive, so she offered her skills as an illustrator to create a poster and the book was born of this effort. All Are Welcome by Alexandra…
My Honest Review of TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE & 2 Book Giveaway
My son read Two Truths and a Lie: It’s Alive but I think he was too old at age 12 to enjoy it. I think this book series sweet spot is reluctant boy readers (like my son) at grades 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. My son is typical of the reluctant elementary school boy reader. He reads about a year above grade…
Stewie BOOM! Series Promotes Understanding
Thank you to Nothing But the Truth for sponsoring this post. I’m trying something new today. This is my first sponsored post for a publisher. What I am promising is an honest review of their books. What they get by sponsoring is that I will read and review their books in a timely way. Typically,…







